Alberta Leaves & Compensation

All you need to know about employee’s leave, compensation, statutory holidays, vacation and other entitlements under the Alberta Employment Standards Code   

Sick Days:

Not provided for. 

Leaves of Absence (all leaves are unpaid unless specified otherwise):  

• 3 days’ Bereavement Leave 
• 5 days’ Personal and Family Responsibility Leave 
• 10 days’ Domestic Violence Leave 
• ½ day Citizenship Ceremony Leave 
• 27 weeks’ Compassionate Care Leave to care for gravely ill family member 
• 16 weeks’ Critical Illness Leave to care for critically ill adult family member 
• 36 weeks’ Critical Illness Leave to care for critically ill child family member 
• 52 weeks’ Child Disappearance Leave for crime-related disappearance of child 
• 104 weeks’ Child Death Leave for crime-related death of child 
• 16 weeks’ Long-Term Illness or Injury Leave 
• 16 weeks’ Maternity Leave 
• 62 weeks’ Parental Leave 
• Reservist Leave for as long as necessary for employee to perform military reservist duties 

Vacation:

Must work 1 full year before entitled to vacation time.
2 weeks with pay at 4% after each of the first 4 years of employment.
3 weeks with pay at 6% after 5 consecutive years of employment. 

Statutory Holidays:

New Year’s Day, Alberta Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day and Christmas day. Boxing day may be optional. *Easter Monday is for government employees only. 

Statutory Holiday Pay:

If worked – time and a half plus average daily wages or alternate day plus regular pay
If not worked – average daily wages 

Pay:

Minimum Wage: $15.00
Minimum Wage for Students Under Age 18: $13.00
Overtime Pay: Time and a half (1.5 x the wage rate) 

Hours:

Daily Overtime – all hours worked over 8 hours a day
Weekly Overtime – All hours worked over 44 hours a week 

Workers’ Compensation:

Average Workers Comp Assessment Rate 2026: $1.36 per $100
Workers’ Comp Maximum Assessable/Insurable Earnings 2026: $110,900